2015 International Essay Contest

This annual essay contest is organized in an effort to harness the energy, imagination and initiative of the world's youth in promoting a culture of peace and sustainable development. It also aims to inspire society to learn from the young minds and to think about how each of us can make a difference in the world. Marking the 70th anniversary of UNESCO, the theme of this year’s contest is “Building Peace in Our Hearts and Minds."

	Prizes: 1st Prize: Certificate and prize of 100,000 Yen (approx. US$840 as of February 2015) (1 entrant) 2nd Prize: Certificate and prize of 50,000 Yen (approx. US$420 as of February 2015) (2 entrants) 3rd Prize: Certificate and gift ( 5entrants) Honorable Mention: Certificate and gift (25entrants)

	Guidelines: Essays may be submitted by anyone up to 25 years old (as of June 15, 2015) in one of the following age categories: a) Children (ages up to 14) b) Youth (ages 15 - 25)
	Essays must be 700 words or less in English, French, Spanish or German, or 1600 characters or less in Japanese, excluding essay title. Essays may be typed or printed.
	Essays must have a cover page indicating (1) category (Children or Youth) (2) essay title (3) your name (4) address (5) phone number (6) e-mail (7) nationality (8) age as of June 15, 2015 (9) gender (10) school name (if applicable) (11) word count. Teachers and youth directors may submit a collection of essays from their class or group. Please enclose a list of participants' names, ages and the name and contact information of the submitting teacher or director. * Entries missing any of the above information will not be considered. * Please note that the organizer is unable to confirm receipt of essays or answer individual inquiries concerning contest results.
	How to Apply: For more info about the contest and how to Apply visit the online registration page and follow the required steps. Entries must be received by June 15, 2015 (23:59 your local time)